August 23 - first day of school needs pink shoes

What: Pink flower ballet flats, size 8
From: Talbots
Purchased: Aug 1, 2010
Cost: $40

Yes. I bought them. My 14th pair this year. I had been coveting them for a long time. Coveting! And I get paid monthly, and the first of the month I went out and bough them at $40, which is really too high (especially since I bought these, too). And, the very next day they were marked down to $25. Laurie asked a very good question, why not just go in for a price adjustment? Believe me, I am - or used to be - the queen of price adjustments or returns and repurchases. But now, stupid Talbots has instituted a final sale policy. Once they reach a certain point of markdown, items become final sale. This made me nervous they were running out (particularly of the flip flops), and I had seen no signs of these shoes at the outlets. So I bought them. And then they were marked down further, and I was stuck. Lesson learned. But - stupid Talbots is becoming super annoying with their policies. I pointed out several pairs of lovely shoes (gee, the month of my birthday, hmm) I would love at great prices, and then - they re-raised the prices! So these are now back to $50, and all the other shoes I pointed out recently are roughly twice as much as at their lowest price point. So see, they are trying to out-trick their savvy bargain hunting customers. They won this round. But overall I'm still pretty much ahead. I really should have held out on these - they still have a ton on the website in a rainbow of colors. I think I'm satisfied with pink.

Anyway, wanted something kicky and fun for the first day of school, even if I was just doing drop off and pick up. Still needed to dress to impress, even if that is verging on borderline crazy (I'm trying to impress the other k students? The other moms? The teachers? I don't know, and let's just not talk about it anymore). So these were fun. Even if they did - you guessed it - wear some blisters! (hey, a week of crocs and no foot is in any shape to be confined!)

I didn't realize until we were walking home that Elizabeth was also in her new pink Lands End shoes. Everyone needs a pop of fun color on the first day.

Bottom line: keeper!